Reggae Boyz not looking too far ahead
Published:Sunday | July 2, 2023 | 1:38 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
REGGAE BOYZ head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and national midfielder Daniel Johnson will not be paying too much attention to overhauling the United States goal differential in a bid to top their Gold Cup Group A when they play against St Kitts and Nevis in Santa Clara, California at 6:06 p.m. today.
The Reggae Boyz need to avoid losing to get out of the group and into the next stage of the competition but could top the group, were they to score enough goals to surpass the United States, who have a +6 goal difference. Jamaica are second with a +3 goal difference.
The scenario means, for the Jamaicans to top the group, they would not only have to defeat St Kitts and Nevis by at least four goals, they would also need a favourable result between the US and Trinidad and Tobago.
But, when asked about how offensively strong they need to be to deliver another strong performance and have a chance to win the group, midfielder Daniel Johnson, in yesterday’s pre-game press conference, said that winning the game was the only thing that will be on their minds.
“The most important thing for us to go and do tomorrow is to go out there and win the game. It doesn’t matter if we finish first or second. The most important thing we have to do is win the game and then, whatever happens after that, it will take care of itself,” Johnson said.
It is the same sentiment that Hallgrimsson conveyed, with the message that the result is the main aim, regardless of how the group finishes and who Jamaica will face, should they get favourable results.
NOT IN OUR HANDS
“It is not in our hands. We don’t know how the other groups will end. It is always nice to look at the table and see Jamaica topping it. But it is not that much important whether we are one or two. It is just to win and go to the next round and be ready for who we will face in that round,” Hallgrimsson said.
Fresh from his first win as Reggae Boyz head coach, a 4-1victory over Trinidad, Hallgrimsson said that he has been pleased with the overall performance of the team.
“We have been rotating and we have been happy with the performance of the team, not only the defence but all the time. I think we will grow in this tournament and become better as we have more games played together. There are a lot of reasons why we are changing, not only in performances but thinking ahead as well,” Hallgrimsson said.
St Kitts and Nevis, who qualified for the group stage by winning a tournament playoff, have had a difficult campaign, losing 3-0 in their opener against Trinidad and 6-0 to the United States.
Jamaica enjoy a winning record against St Kitts over the course of 10 meetings, drawing two and winning eight, including their last meeting in 2018.